To connect our divided country, the American Exchange Project sends high school seniors on a free, week-long trip to a hometown very different from their own.
How AEP
works
Who can travel?
All high school seniors on track to graduate from one of AEP’s partner high schools are eligible to sign up for AEP.
Where will I go?
In 2023, AEP partnered with 53 high schools in 31 states. Once you sign up, we’ll consider where you’re from, your interests, and your availability to place you and a group of other AEPers from across the country in one of our partner communities. You could go to any of our partner towns.
What’s the timeline?
Sign ups open on October 1 and close in January. March 1 is AEP DAY in all of our partner schools—that’s when you’ll find out where you’re headed! You’ll travel for one week in the summer. Exact timing depends on when the hometown you’re visiting hosts their trip. You’ll also help host AEPers in your hometown for a week.
Is it really free?
AEP covers all costs associated with the program. This includes airfare, meals, housing, local transportation, and fees for events and activities.
Why is it free?
AEP trips are free thanks to hundreds of donors from around the world who care deeply about bringing together our divided country and offering our students an incredible experience. We also believe this experience ought to be a public good. Nothing should get in the way of a young person who wants to learn more about their country and their fellow citizens.
Come travel with us…
What we’re hearing
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“The best experience of my life! My viewpoint on everything suddenly feels more balanced and less blinded. I feel like there’s a part of me in city and country America which helps me to look inside myself for answers, not the ‘mono-cultured’ opinion of the place I live.”
2022 Student
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“Every AEPer has one thing in common that truly unites us: [we are] kids just being ourselves and trying to find out our next step in life. I’ve been able to learn that even with our geographical differences we are not that different. We are all American.”
Zack
Traveled from Kilgore, TX to Albany, CA -
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“As the days have gone by, we’ve gotten closer and closer, and now they feel like family. Today is bittersweet because I wish I could keep them for two or three more weeks. I’m really gonna miss them. I’m not gonna cry, but this has been an awesome, awesome experience.”
Tessa Hughes
Teacher in Flowood, MS (middle) -
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"The first day, we went hiking on a glacier...By the fifth day together, we were already planning our reunion."
Matthew
Traveled from Kilgore, TX to Anchorage, AK -
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“I think that this program should be more common than the prom. This is one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself.”
Owen
Traveled from Albany, CA, to Riggins, ID -
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“I was surprised by how willing everyone was to have authentic discussions and listen to each other. Even if we didn't always agree or rarely agreed, we were able to ask questions and even learn stuff about each other.”
2021 Student
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“Every kid in America needs to do this. What we are learning is that important.”
Josh
Traveled from Albany, CA, to Dillon, MT -
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"The amount of pure organic moments that occurred within interactions were beyond anything I could have expected and were truly inspiring to see unfold! Couldn't be prouder to have such great young gentlemen as my 'kids' and can only hope I was as good of a host as you were guests! Check that, no longer guests, but friends!"
Host Parent
In Cotulla, TX -
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"If I was to tell rising seniors one thing about the program it would be that there’s no catch. It’s actually real. They need to do this.”
Ava
Traveled from Portland, ME to Dillon, MT -
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“Even after more than a year of college, I still think of that week as the best and most important week of my life.”
Matthew
From Stamford, CT -
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"Seeing this brought me to tears, to watch our own kids break down the stereotypes about folks from here, and to see the way those kids [visiting AEPers] understood it.”
Mayor of an AEP host town
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“We have a daughter in Kilgore, and a daughter in New York.”
Host Parent
In Kilgore, TX
AEP in the news
